Memoranda having reference to a Meeting at Carlton called by the
Chief Commissioner for the purpose of receiving advice and
information regarding the Trade and Requirements of the Several
Districts in Northern Department from the officers in charge of the
same commencing on the 1st day of July, 1878, at which the
undermentioned qualified Commissioned Officers were present by
request:
Richard Hardisty, Chief Factor.
Lawrence Clarke, Chief Factor.
The following Factors, Chief Trader and Junior Chief Trader were
also invited to attend:
Archibald McDonald, Factor.
Horace Belanger, Factor.
Wm. McKay, "C", Factor.
James McDougall, Chief Trader.
J. Ogden Grahame, Junior Chief Factor.
_Article 1_--That the appointments of Commissioned Officers for the
current outfit be as follows, viz.:
McKenzie River--Julian S. Camsell, Factor; John Wilson, Junior
Chief Trader; Charles F. Gaudet, Chief Trader.
Peace River--James McDougall, Chief Trader; Alexr. MacKenzie, "A"
Junior Trader.
Athabasca--Rodk. McFarlane, Chief Factor: Henry J. Moberly, Chief
Trader; John McAulay, Junior Chief Trader; William F. Gairdner,
Junior Chief Trader.
English River--Ewen McDonald, Chief Trader.
Edmonton--Richard Hardisty, Chief Factor.
Saskatchewan--Lawrence Clarke, Chief Factor; Wm. McKay, "C" Factor.
Cumberland--Horace Belanger, Factor; Pierre Deschambeault, Senior
Chief Trader.
[Illustration: _An H.B.C. Fur Trade Council at one of the north-central
forts during the later years of the nineteenth century. The artist has
here caught much of the facial likeness of such commissioned officers as
McDougall, Camsell, McKay, McDonald, Livock and King, who were all
present at the last council of the Company's fur trade Officers, held
at Athabasca Landing, July, 1898._]
Grand Rapids--Alexander Matheson, Chief Trader.
Norway House--Roderick Ross, Factor.
Island Lake--Cuthbert Sinclair, Junior Chief Trader.
York Factory--Joseph Fortescue, Factor.
Swan River--Archibald McDonald, Factor; William J. McLean, Junior
Chief Trader.
Manitoba--Wm. Clarke, Junior Chief Trader.
Red River--John H. McTavish, Chief Factor; Wm. Flett, Chief Trader;
Joseph J. Hargrave, Junior Chief Trader; Duncan Matheson, Junior
Chief Trader; Alexr. Christie, Junior Chief Trader.
Lac la Pluie--Alexr. R. Lillie, Chief Trader; James B. McKenzie,
"A" Junior Chief Trader.
General Service--George S. McTavish, Inspt. Chief Factor; J. Ogden
Grahame, Junior Chief Trader.
_Article 2_--Winter Arrangements, 1878-9
_ENGLISH RIVER_
Isle a la Crosse--Ewen McDonald, Chief Trader; Walter B. West,
Apprentice Clerk; Francois Maurice, Clerk.
Portage la Loche--Nicol Sinclair, Clerk; Pierre Laliberte, Clerk.
Green Lake--Scott W. Simpson, Clerk.
Outpost--Charles Lafleur, Interpreter.
Disposable--Fredk. S. Church, Apprentice Clerk.
_Article 3_--That 25 servants, including tradesmen and
interpreters, and about 550 pieces of goods including winter
allowances and servants' equipments constitute the current outfit
of English River District, the goods to be conveyed inland via
Carlton and Green Lake.
_Article 4_--That the appointments of Clerks and Postmasters,
Summer 1879, be made by Chief Trader Ewen McDonald as he may deem
expedient and that he be directed to superintend the transport of
outfits and returns of A. & R. Districts between Green Lake and
Portage la Loche.
_Article 5_--That the country-made articles for English River
District for Outfit 1879 be provided at Fort Garry, Summer 1878.
_Article 6_--Winter Arrangements, 1878-9.
_EDMONTON_
Edmonton House--Richard Hardisty, Chief Factor; John Sinclair,
Clerk; Frank Wilson, Clerk; Wm. Leslie Wood, Clerk.
Lac Ste. Anns--James Kirkness, Clerk.
Victoria--Wm. R. Brereton, Clerk.
Bow River--Angus Fraser, Interpreter.
White Fish Lake--Joseph Nooskeyah, Clerk.
Lesser Slave Lake--Harrison S. Young, Clerk; Charles Anderson,
Interpreter.
Lac la Biche--Wm. E. Traill, Clerk.
Disposable--Joseph Favel, Pilot.
_Article 7_--That 8 engaged and 4 temporary servants with about 800
pieces of goods including winter allowances and servants'
equipments constitute the current outfit for the Edmonton District,
the goods to be conveyed from Fort Garry by steamers.
_Article 8_--That Chief Factor Richard Hardisty be instructed to
assist Saskatchewan District with country produce required for
general service as far as his means will admit.
_Article 9_--That Chief Factor Hardisty be authorized to make the
necessary and proper arrangements for the summer business of the
District, 1879, and to change the appointments of the clerks if he
deem it necessary.
_Article 10_--That Chief Factor Hardisty be instructed to be
prepared to forward to Lesser Slave Lake from 600 to 800 pieces of
goods intended for the Peace River and Athabasca Outfit, 1879, as
early as possible after the same shall have reached Edmonton and
that he superintend the transport between Edmonton and Smoky River.
_Article 11_--That the following country produce be forwarded to
Lesser Slave Lake from Edmonton for the Transport Service between
that point and Smoky River:
20 bags flour.
30 bags pemmican, each 100 pounds.
50 whole buffalo skins.
_Article 12_--That the following supplies for New Caledonia Outfit
1879 be forwarded from Edmonton to Peace River for delivery at
Hudson's Hope on or before the 10th September, 1879:
350 whole buffalo skins.
300 lbs. common pemmican.
20 lbs. sinews.
_Article 13_--That the country-made articles required for the trade
of Edmonton District for Outfit 1879 be provided at Fort Garry,
Summer 1878.
_Article 14_--Winter Arrangements, 1878-9
_SASKATCHEWAN_
Carlton House--L. Clarke, Chief Factor; George McCrum, Clerk; Jas.
K. Simpson, Clerk; Angus McKay, Apprentice Clerk.
Fort Pitt--Wm. McKay, "C" Factor.
Cold Lake--Wm. McKay, "J" Clerk.
Turtle Lake--Daniel Villebrun, Interpreter.
Battleford--August H. Bastien, Postmaster.
Prince Albert--Philip Turner, Clerk; Colin McIntyre, Apprentice
Clerk.
Fort a la Corne--George Goodfellow, Clerk.
_Article 15_--That Chief Factor Lawrence Clarke be authorized to
make the necessary and proper arrangements for the summer business
of the District season 1879, including the forwarding of the Outfit
for the Districts north of Carlton and that he change the
appointments of clerks in his District as he may deem necessary.
_Article 16_--That the following country produce be deposited at
Cumberland House in the Spring of 1879 for the use of passing
brigades and for the trade of that District:
200 bags common pemmican.
400 whole dressed buffalo skins.
50 large dressed moose skins.
8 leather tents, each 10 skins.
_Article 17_--That the following country produce be forwarded to
Green Lake, Autumn 1878, or Spring of 1879, for transport service
in English River District, Season 1879, viz:
250 bags common pemmican, each 100 lbs.
400 whole dressed buffalo skins.
50 large dressed moose skins.
8 leather tents, each 10 skins.
_Article 18_--That the following country produce be furnished by
the Saskatchewan District, season 1878, for distribution 1879,
among the Districts of Norway House, York Factory and Island Lake,
and that the same be forwarded to Grand Rapids for that purpose:
300 bags common pemmican, each 100 lbs.
20 leather tents, each 10 or 12 skins.
600 whole buffalo skins.
400 half buffalo skins.
_Article 19_--That the country-made articles for the Saskatchewan
District for Outfit 1879 be provided at Fort Garry, Summer 1878.
_Article 20_--That Chief Factor Clarke be instructed to comply with
no additional requisitions for country produce of any kind except
he is satisfied there may be a hitch in the transport for the want
of them.
Article 21--Winter Arrangements, 1878-9.
_CUMBERLAND_
Cumberland House--Horace Belanger, Factor; Nicol McDougall, Clerk.
Le Pas--Charles Adams, Clerk; Robert Ballendine, Postmaster.
Moose Lake--John McDonald, "D" Clerk.
Pelican Narrows--John E. Stewart, Apprentice Clerk; Antoine Morin,
"B" Interpreter.
Lac du Brochet--Pierre Deschambeault, Chief Trader; Pierre Morin,
Postmaster.
Rapid River--Philip McDonald, Clerk; Angus McLeod, Interpreter.
Disposable--Joseph Hourston, Postmaster.
_Article 22_--That 20 servants and 700 pieces of goods, including
Winter allowances and servants' equipments, constitute the current
outfit for Cumberland District, the goods to be conveyed from Fort
Garry by steamers.
_Article 23_--That Factor Belanger be authorized to make the
necessary arrangements for the summer business of the District,
Season 1879, and that he change the appointments of commissioned
officers and clerks in his District as he may deem necessary.
_Article 24_--That Factor Belanger be instructed to forward to
Norway House, Spring 1879, the following country produce, viz:
50 lbs. large snowshoe netting.
50 lbs. small snowshoe netting.
_Article 25_--That Factor Belanger take measures to have rendered
at Portage la Loche, Summer 1879, on or about 25th July but not
later than 1st August, 8 boat loads, each boat load to consist of
75 pieces of the Athabasca Outfit which will be landed from the
Steamer "Northcote" at Cumberland, and that on the return trip the
crews of the 8 boats be engaged to take in each boat not less than
50 packs furs and deliver the same at the Grand Rapid should the
Steamer "Northcote" have ceased running.
_Article 26_--That the country-made articles for Cumberland
District, Outfit 1879, be provided at Fort Garry, Summer 1878.
_Article 27_--Winter Arrangements, 1878-9.
_GRAND RAPIDS_
Grand Rapids--Alex. Matheson, Chief Trader; Colin Thompson,
Apprentice Clerk.
_Article 28_--That Chief Trader Alexander Matheson be instructed to
receive at the Grand Rapids all goods intended for the Northern
Districts that may be sent there and have conveyed by the Steamer
Northcote to Cumberland the goods intended for that District and
600 pieces of those intended for Athabasca District, sending to
Carlton by the same steamer the goods intended for the Districts of
Saskatchewan, English River, Edmonton, Peace River and McKenzie
River as well as the remainder of those intended for "i."
_Article 29_--That the country-made articles for Grand Rapids
District for Outfit 1879 be provided for at Fort Garry, Summer
1878.
_Article 30_--Summer Arrangements, 1878-9.
_NORWAY HOUSE_
Norway House--Roderick Ross, Factor; D. C. McTavish, Clerk; James
Flett, "C" Apprentice Clerk; Walter Franklin, Apprentice Clerk.
Nelson River--Wm. Isbister, Clerk.
Berens River--James Flett, "B" Clerk.
[Illustration: "_Playmates of the North._" _This chubby lad, who seems
to have the entire confidence of the lead dog of the team, is the son of
Mr. John J. Loutit, post manager at Fort Chipewyan._]
Grand Rapids--John Moar, Postmaster.
Poplar River--Alex. Stout, Postmaster.
Disposable--John C. Sinclair, Postmaster.
_Article 31_--That 20 servants and 650 pieces of goods, including
Winter allowances and servants' equipment, constitute the current
outfit for Norway House District and that the outfit be conveyed
from Fort Garry by steamer or otherwise as most convenient.
_Article 32_--That Factor Roderick Ross be instructed to forward
per boats to the Grand Rapids, Summer 1879, any goods on depot at
Norway House intended for the trade of the Northern Districts
Outfit as early as navigation will permit and have brought back
from there to Norway House any returns or country produce intended
for the supply of Norway House, Island Lake or York Factory
Districts or for shipment to England from the latter place.
_Article 33_--That Factor Ross be instructed to make arrangements
with Factor Fortescue as to the number of boats requisite to bring
up from the Factory any gunpowder or other articles intended for
shipment inland and avail himself of the freight room downwards to
forward to the Factory as large a portion as possible of the
returns of Norway House District besides any castorum, buffalo
tongues and quills received from other Districts for shipment to
London, after providing for the country produce intended for Island
Lake and York Factory.
_Article 34_--That the country-made articles for Norway House
District for Outfit 1879 be provided at Fort Garry, Summer 1878.
_Article 35_--Winter and Summer Arrangements, 1878-9
_ISLAND LAKE_
Oxford House--Cuthbert Sinclair, Junior Chief Trader.
Island Lake--Thos. M. Linklater, Clerk.
_Article 36_--That 8 servants and 320 pieces of goods constitute
the current outfit for Island Lake District, the same to be
conveyed from York Factory by the Oxford House boats and provided
for in York Factory requisition.
_Article 37_--That the Island Lake boats make one round trip
between Norway House and York Factory, Summer 1878, laden with such
cargoes as the officers in charge of these Districts may have to go
forward should they be required to do so.
_Article 38_--Winter and Summer Arrangements 1878-9
_YORK FACTORY_
York Factory--Joseph Fortescue, Factor; John K. McDonald, Clerk; A.
O. T. Bennett, Apprentice Clerk; James Cowie, Apprentice Clerk;
George Grieve, Postmaster.
Severn--John Taylor, Postmaster.
Trout Lake--James Tod, Clerk.
Churchill--John R. Spencer, Clerk.
_Article 39_--That 35 servants, including mechanics, constitute the
summer and winter establishments of York Factory District and that
the outfits and returns of the Posts of Severn and Trout Lake be
transported in the usual manner and those of Churchill landed from
and shipped in the annual vessel from London which is directed to
call at Churchill on its way out to York Factory.
_Article 40_--That Factor Fortescue be instructed to have in
readiness, Spring 1879, for shipment to Oxford House the outfit
intended for the trade of Island Lake District, 1879, and that he
direct Mr. Cuthbert Sinclair to send to York Factory by boats the
returns of Island Lake District as early in the summer as possible
providing at the same time a sufficient number of men and boats for
the transport of the Outfit for 1879.
_Article 41_--That Factor Fortescue be instructed to forward to
Norway House as opportunity offers the gunpowder and country-made
articles on hand at York Factory (exclusive of beads, country-made
articles, etc.) which are set aside for the Inland Districts.
_Article 42_--Winter Arrangements, 1878-9.
_MANITOBA_
Oak Point--Wm. Clark, Junior Chief Trader; Geo. F. Kinnaird,
Apprentice Clerk.
Manitoba House--Isaac Cowie, Clerk.
Water Hen River--Alexr. Munro, Clerk.
Shoal River--Donald McDonald, "A" Clerk.
Fairford--An Interpreter.
_Article 43_--That Junior Chief Trader William Clark be authorized
to make the necessary and proper arrangements for the summer
business of the District, Season 1879, and change the disposal of
the clerks if he may think it necessary.
_Article 44_--That 4 servants and 300 pieces of goods, including
winter allowances and servants' equipments, constitute the current
outfit of Manitoba District and be imported via St. Paul to Fort
Garry and thence by carts to Oak Point.
_Article 45_--That the live stock on inventory in Manitoba District
be priced at their market value in the District, less 33-1/3%
Article 46--That Junior Chief Trader William Clark be instructed to
procure at Fairford and forward to Berens River for the use of
Norway House District, Summer 1879:
20 fathoms birch bark for canoe bottoms. 20 fathoms birch bark for
canoe sides. _Article 47_--That the country-made articles for
Manitoba District, Outfit 1879, be provided at Fort Garry, Summer
1878.
_Article 48_--Winter and Summer Arrangements, 1878-9
_SWAN RIVER_
Fort Ellice--Archibald McDonald, Factor; David Armit, Clerk; Hugh
McBeath, Clerk.
Riding Mountain--James C. Andy, Clerk.
Qu'Appelle--Wm. J. McLean, Junior Chief Trader; George Dreyer,
Postmaster.
Fort Pelly--Adam McBeath, Clerk; John Calder, Apprentice Clerk.
Touchwood Hills--Angus McBeath, Clerk; Thomas W. Lillie, Apprentice
Clerk.
Egg Lake--Henry McKay, Clerk.
_Article 49_--That 10 servants and 800 pieces of goods, including
winter allowances and servants' equipments, constitute the current
outfit of Swan River District and be imported via St. Paul to Fort
Garry and thence by carts to the District.
_Article 50_--That Factor Archibald McDonald be authorized to make
the necessary and proper arrangements for the summer business of
the District, season 1879, and change the disposal of clerks if he
may think it is necessary.
(_Note_--Articles 51 to 107 of the Minutes are of a similar nature
to the foregoing.)